Searching for Columnar Jointing on Mars

Brittany Meucci

Mentor- Dr. Moses Milazzo

Northern Arizona University-NASA Space Grant

25 cm/pixel

What is Columnar Jointing?

North Ninepin Island, Hong Kong

High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)

- On board the MRO- ~1 % canvassed- 30,000 + photos- 370-400 km above Mars- 1 m objects

Where is it?- Impact processes- Volcanic processes- Crater walls

25 cm/pixel

25 cm/pixel

Importance

-Previous life-Fresh water lake deposits

Conclusions

- Lava-water interaction- Discovered by MRO’s HiRISE

- ~1% canvassed- Found only in impact processes

- Life on Mars

Future Research

Acknowledgements

NASA Space Grant programNorthern Arizona UniversityDr. Barlow and Mrs. Stigmon

And a special thanks to my mentor, Dr. Milazzo

Questions?